Arguably, one of the top schools in New Zealand for Music, Burnside High School provides a wide range of courses and co-curricular musical opportunities for students.

The Specialist Music Programme (SMP) is a unique programme in New Zealand offering masterclasses, chamber music and solo performance opportunities for students of superior musical ability in the following specialisms:

Orchestral Strings

Brass

Woodwind

Piano

Voice

Jazz

SMP is for long term enrolment students (3-5 years) who live and breathe music. Entry to SMP is by audition; video submissions from international students are welcomed. SMP students have a full academic timetable which consists of at least one Music course (at no cost), private lessons outside of school hours ($60-80 per hour), lunchtime and after school rehearsals as well as a weekly SMP workshop with specialist tutors. Top graduates frequently move on to the likes of Royal College of Music in London and The Manhattan School of Music in New York. More details about SMP are available on the website: www.specialistmusicprogramme.co.nz

The International Music Programme (IMP). This programme is best suited to International Students who enrol at Burnside for about 6-12 months who already play an instrument/sing and wish to be taught by and work alongside passionate musicians. Often two Music classes are taken as part of the academic timetable (no cost). Musical instruments can be borrowed from the school (subject to availability), brought to NZ by the student (preferred) or hired from an external provider e.g KBB Music. Hiring usually costs about $60 per month and there can also be courier costs involved. Private lessons are mandatory for all IMP students. Lessons take place on campus or at the music teacher’s studio and cost between $60 and $80 per hour or $30/40 for 30 minutes.

IMP students are encouraged to participate in the Music Department’s co-curricular programme. There are many groups to choose from, some of which are auditioned, others open to all e.g:

Six different choirs, including all female, all male and mixed voices at both senior and junior levels

Symphony Orchestra

Big Band

Concert Band

Funk Band

Entry into the Orchestra and Big Band depends on the instrument played and available places for that instrument.

Application to the IMP is by audition. Please send a video of a recent solo performance and, if selected, we will reserve you a place. A smartphone recording is adequate.

The final option is to simply study Music as one of your 5-6 subjects. You can join bands and choirs as you wish. If a student takes Music as part of their timetable, a private lesson must be taken too. Costs of approximately $60-80 per hour will apply as stated above. All senior students will have access to our Mac suite that is equipped with 20 computers running Sibelius & Logic Audio software.

Music courses on offer at senior level are: Music (traditional, classical academic content), Contemporary Music (pop/rock focus), Music Conducting, Performance Music and Music Technology.

Below are important dates for our Music students. Being part of these groups and performances will depend on when you arrive in New Zealand. Auditions for some performances occur several months in advance. Where travel to events outside of Christchurch e.g competitions is required, additional fees will be payable to cover travel, food and accommodation costs.

Here are some annual, key musical events. There are many more:

March/April: Choir Camp, Instrumental Camp

May: Music Roadshow

June: Jazz Quest, Chamber Music (Regionals), Big Sing (Regionals)

August: Big Sing Nationals (Dunedin), Chamber Music Nationals (Auckland), Southern Jam (Blenheim), Concert Band Festival

September: Orchestral Showcase Concert and Orchestral Festival, Contemporary Showcase Concert

October: Choral Extravaganza, Christchurch Big Band Festival